Perforating implement having means to align the punch and die



A. K. SCHOTT July 7, 1959 PERFORATING IMPLEMENT HAVING MEANS TO ALIGN THE PUNCH AND DIE 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Aug. 51, 1956 INVENTOR. ARTHUR K SCHOTT arromvsr X;

y 7, 1959 A. K. SCHOTT 2,893,488

PERFORATING IMPLEMENT HAVING MEANS T0 ALIGN THE PUNCH AND DIE Filed Aug. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a INVENTOR.

ARTHUR K SGHOTT ATTORNEY PERFORATING HAVING 5 T ALIGN THE PUNCH AND DIE Arthur K. Schott, Kenmore, NYi, assignor to George F. Wales, Kenmore, NkYi 7 Application Augustfi'l, 1 956,.SeriaLNO. 607,444

11 Claims; (ClL 1'64-'1 10)'-' widespread use because theypermit punching; a plurality of holes in sheet materialjsimultaneouslyand in practically any desiredrelationship; These implements comprise a bodily-removable,manually-transportablesupport, a punch and a die mounted in; axially-aligned; relation in the support, and punch-stripping; means. A plurality of these devices canbemounted between, the bed; and, the ram of a press, so that uponactuation ofth'e ram, the workpiece may be punched, notched, and/or otherwise perforated, in a plurality offplaces:simultaneously.

Where a plurality of holes of non-circular configure,- tion,'-such as triangular; or rectangular holes, are tobe,- punchcd simultaneously in? a single work sheet, ithas frequently not been convenient heretofore to use the same punch design for all thefperforatingimplements if the apertures to be punched in the workpiece are not all similarly oriented. Thus, punch: bitsof the same rectangular design, together with; the correspondingly shaped perforating: dies, could be convenientlyemployed for punching rectangular? hjoles' simultaneously ina work sheet only where the holes to be punched; in the work sheet were all oriented in the same} manner relative to the work sheet. Where thehole'sa were; not so oriented, it has frequently proved necessary to provide punches having difierently oriented bitsand cooperating dies, thus adding to the cost of the equipment required and: to, the, setup time of the job.

Another drawback to conventional; perforating implements has been the fact that occasionally the punch will jump out. of the holder or support? because of the force of stripping the punch-from the work: after a: punching stroke; Means are provided? in the conventional perforating implement fonlimiting: the upward; stripping movement of the punch;;butwhen a punch dulls, it tends to stickin the work; The stripping spring: then is required to exert greater pressure in order to-stripr the punch from the work, thanwhen thepunch is newly sharpened. Sometimes; the punch suddenly lets go under the impulse of the; stripping spring; the impact of the punch shears thescrew or other stop'means' employed in the implement; and the punch goes: flying 'out'ofthe implement. Sometimes the operator strikes the worksheet or the punch with a mallet, when the-punch sticks; and that causes the punch to let go suddenly and fly out of a perforating implement, impelledby; the force of the stripping spring. If the operator does not notice that the punch is not in proper position'in its unit, he may operate the punch again and fail to perforate ahole in a work sheet, or the punch may even. get wedged, in the press or in its own or another" implement, and on the nited States Patent next stroke. of the press, the punch, or a perforating implement may'bebroken, or the work may be damaged.

An object of the present inventionis to provide an improved self-contained punching implement in which a punch and the associated die are so mounted that a noncircular punch and die can readily be adjusted therein to penmit optional shape direction of punch and die.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved implement of the character described which will permit quick change of the punch and die so that a circular punch and associated die can readily be substituted for a shaped punch and die, or a punch and die of one shape can readily be substituted for a punch and die of another shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the character described in which improved means is provided for limiting. the upward movement of the punch under stripping force so that the punch cannot be thrown out of its guide sleeve by the stripping force. A related object of the invention is to provide an improved means for retaininga punchv in the guide sleeve of a self-contained perforating implement, in which any strippingforce imparted to the punch and applied by the punch to the retaining means is absorbed thereby in compression primarily, rather than as a shear force.

A related object of the invention is to provide an improved self-contained perforating implement in which means are provided to permit rapid and accurate positioning of the die and punching unit in the implement, and disassembly thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved self-contained perforating implement which can be so made as to assure positive alignment of punch and die.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a perforating implement of the character described so constructed that the desired alignment of punch and die can be achieved with a single simultaneous, inexpensive machining operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide improved guide means for keying the stripper sleeve to the holder, and an improved die retention device for securing the die readily and rapidly in the holder.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. In this embodiment the holder is of the conventional' C-frame type, having a lower arm or base and an upper arm. A die is mounted in the lower arm of the implement, and a punching and stripping unit is mounted in v alignment with the die in, a guide opening in the upper arm. The punchingj'and stripping unit includes a guide sleeve slidably mounted in the guide opening of the upper arm andguided therein for reciprocal movement, The punch itself'is reciprocably mounted and guided in the guide sleeve.

To allow for orientation of a shaped punch relative to the holder and the work sheet, duplicate key seats are provided in the punch, angularly spaced9 0 apart, so that a key may be seatedselectively in' either seat for slidable engagement with a keyway on theinterior. surface of the guide sleeve. The punch may thus be readily mounted at two different positions! apart in the guide sleeve. The guide sleeve is slidablykeyed' to the holder by a key seated in the upper arm of the'holder and slidable in an elongate keyway in the sleeve.

The punch is freely reciproca-ble in the guide sleeve over a limited distance. To limit the upward movement of the punch, and to prevent it from jumping out of the guide sleeve, a setscrew is threaded in the guide sleeve in a downwardly inclined direction. This set-screw eng ses in n el nga e o e. n. t e p ns t a a flat inner end perpendicular to its axis. The lower endof the g'roove'is flatted off' and is inclined at substantially right angles to the axis of the set-screw, so that when the set-screw engages the flatted end of the groove the 'screw is put in compression instead of shear, and the punch is safely stopped without shearing the set-screw or jumping out of the guide sleeve. Threaded apertures angularly spaced 90 apart are provided in the guide sleeve so that the set-screw may be correctly positioned to restrict reciprocation of the punch.

The die assembly includes a button type die having a projecting stud on its undersurface. The stud is adapted to be inserted in a corresponding opening in the surface of the lower arm of the holder. This arm is split at its outer end to provide a split-clamp for receiving this stud. A screw is threaded in the arm to tighten the split clamp.

Proper alignment between the perforating die and the punching and stripping unit is assured by simultaneously machining keyways in the confronting faces of the upper and lower arms. Keys are seated in these slots to engage the die and sleeve respectively, to thus accurately align the die assembly with the punching and stripping unit. The key, which engages the sleeve, performs a second function, also, of guiding the sleeve in its axial reciprocating movement. It is U-shaped to engage in the two slots in the sleeve and in the holder and to be retained between the sleeve and the holder.

In the die duplicate key seats spaced 90 apart are provided so that the die may be rotated to be aligned with the punch.

' The invention may be best understood by consideration of the appended detailed description, taken together with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a punching implement made according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a partial axial section on an enlarged scale showing the punch in depressed position;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the guide sleeve;

Fig. 7 is a bottom view thereof;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one form of punch that may be used in the implement; and

Fig. 9 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the self-contained perforating implement shown includes a C-frame holder 10 having a lower arm or base 11 and an upper arm 12. A punching and stripping assembly 15, including a guide sleeve 32, is mounted and guided for reciprocation in a guide opening 34 in the upper arm 12,. A 'U -shaped feather key 50 is seated in the upper arm and is adapted to slide in a vertical keyway 52 in the guide sleeve. The key seat in the upper arm includes an elongate longitudinal slot 54 along the undersurface of the upper arm 12 which receives one leg of the U-shaped key 50; and an aperture 56 axially parallel with the elongate slot 54 and directed through the upper arm and opening into the guide opening 34 of the upper arm, in which aperture the other leg of the U-shaped key is seated.

A retainer disc 63 is mounted in a recess in the upper head and is secured thereto by a bolt 64, and engages in an elongate slot 66 extending axially of the guide sleeve. This slot 66 terminates at the lower end thereof in a shoulder 68.

The guide sleeve 32 has a collar 36 at its upper end which defines a shoulder at the upper end of the slot 66 as best seen in Figure 6. A lifter spring 48 is interposed between the collar 36 and the upper head, and constantly urges the guide sleeve to an inoperative position.

The punch has a cylindrical shank 40 reciprocably mounted in the guide sleeve. At its upper end, the punch has a flange 44 and a central boss 46 for engagement with the ram of a press, and at its lower end, the punch has a punch bit 38 which is a reduced extension of the cylindrical shank 40.

A set-screw 72 is threaded in an aperture 74 in the collar 36 of the guide sleeve in a downwardly inclined 4 direction. This set-screw engages in an elongate groove 76 extending axially of the punch and terminating in a lower shoulder 78 and an upper shoulder 78'. The setscrew has a flat inner end perpendicular to its axis. The lower shoulder 78 of the groove is flatted off and is inclined at substantially right angles to the axis of the setscrew, so that when the set-screw engages the flatted surface of the shoulder 78 the screw is put in compres sion instead of shear, and the punch is safety stopped, without shearing the set-screw or jumping out of the guide sleeve. The angle of inclination between the axis of the set-screw and the axis of the punch, in the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, is 75 Duplicate threaded apertures 74 and 74' are provided in the collar 36 of the guide sleeve and are angularly displaced 90 from each other, as shown in Fig. 7.

To allow for orientation of a punch having a shaped bit 38 relative to the guide sleeve 34, the Q-frame holder and the worksheet, duplicate Woodruif key seats 60 and 60 are provided on the outer surface of the punch, angularly spaced 90 apart, so that a Woodruif key 58 may be seated selectively in either seat for slidable engagement in a keyway 62 on the interior surface of the guide sleeve 34. The 90 angular spacing between the threaded apertures '74 and 74' in the collar of the guide sleeve corresponds to the 90 spacing of the Woodrutl key seats 60 and 60"in the cylindrical shank of the punch.

A heavy stripping spring 42 is interposed between the flange 44 of the punch and the collar 36 of the guide sleeve and serves to transmit motion of the punch to the guide sleeve until the sleeve has engaged the work, after which the stripping spring is compressed.

On the lower arm 11 the perforating die 14 is supported in alignment with the punch. The die is of generally cylindrical configuration and has an aperture 17 therein corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the cross-sectional shape of the punch, that is, to the shape of the hole to be punched in the Work. A slug discharge chute 18 extends downwardly and outwardly from the aperture 17 through the die and to one side thereof. The die has a concentric cylindrical stud 16 (Fig. 5) protruding downwardly therefrom into a corresponding recess 18 in the arm 11. A transverse slit 20 in the loWer arm intersects the axis of the aperture 18 and completely severs one half of the lower arm vertically, as best shown in Fig. 4, to form a split-clamp for securing the stud 16 in the arm 11. A screw 22 is threaded into the arm 11 traversing the opening 20 to operate this split clamp.

An L-shaped key 25 is inserted in a keyway 26 in the lower arm and a key recess 30 in the die. The key is pinned in position by a key retainer pin 28 which extends through aligned holes in the lower arm 11 and in the key 25. Duplicate key recesses 30 and 30' are angularly spaced apart in the die 14 so that the die may be securely positioned against rotation on the arm selectively in either of two angular positions which are spaced 90 apart. Thus, the die may be selectively positioned on the arm 11 to correspond to the position of the shaped punch bit 38 in the guide sleeve 34 in the upper arm.

The elongate keyways 26 and 54 extending longitudinally of the holder 10 on the confronting faces of the two arms are aligned, to facilitate and insure alignment of the punch and die. Alignment of the two keyways is assured by the simultaneous machining of the keyways.

The punching and stripping unit 15 and the perforating die 14 with its stud 16 are coaxial with a conventional pilot pin 82 projecting downwardly from the undersurface of the lower arm 11. As is conventional, the lower arm 11 and the upper arm 12 are longitudinally slotted for convenience in securing the holder on a support between the bed and ram of a press.

In the operation of the device, after it has been positioned between the bed and ram of a press, for example,

the boss 46 of the punchis engaged bythe rar'n'andis forced down toward and through theworkr As the punch is forced downwardly, the heavy strippingspring 42 moves the guide sleeve downjuntil'it engages the work, compressing the lifter spring 482 When the guide sleeve engages the work, the. punch continues to move down under the force of the'ram', compressing the stripping spring, causing the punch bit-3810 penetratethe'work and perforate it, and forcingfthe slugthrou'gh the; shaped aperture 17 from which it drops dowir'throughthe discharge chute 18'. d

As the ram moves upwardly; thestripping spring'42 expands and strips the punch bit 38 from the-work and moves the punch verticallyf upward through the guide sleeve. The lifter spring'48" then returns the guide sleeve to a desired inoperative position in the upper arm, as illustrated in Fig. 1. d

During the strippingoperation', theupwandmovement of the punch is limited by the engagement of the setscrew 72 in the groove 76 Because the set=screw has a flat inner end which. makes flush contact with the inclined lower shoulder 78 of the groove; and because the axis of the set-screw is inclined downwardly; any force transmitted to the set-screw by" the punch. is absorbed by the screw in compression instead of" shear, so that the punch is safely' stopped without shearing the setscrew and without jumping'out of the guide sleeve. I To limit the upward movement of'the guide sleeve, and to prevent it from falling out of the holder, particularly when the holder is being'transported fromone place to another, the retainer 63 is' engagedi'in: the slot 66 on the outer, surface of the guide sleeve. Usually, the forces involved arenot great.

As the punch reciprocates in the guidesleeve; the Woodruif key. 58 slides in the keyway' 62 in the guide sleeve and insures that there is no relative angular movement between the punch and the guide sleeve. At the same time, the Woodruif' key guides the punch in its axial reciprocating movement. The ,U-shaped key 50 similarly slides in the keyway 52 in the guide sleeve and prevents relative angular movement-between the guide sleeve andthe upper arm of the holder, while guiding the sleeve in its axial-reciprocating movement in the upper arm. Thus, the shaped punch bit' 3'8- ismaintained in a specific orientation relative to the holder by the Woodrutf key which is interposedbetweenthe punch and the guide sleeve, and bythe U-shaped key'which is interposed between the guide sleeve and theholder.

The die 14 is oriented properly by placing the: L-shaped key 25 in either of the key recesses30 andx30 of the die.

Where the'punch bit 38 is non-circular in shape;v having, for example, the configurations. shown in Fig. 9, it may be desirable to orient the punch bits of two: or more adjacent perforating implements. by orientation ofv the punch relative to the work, rather than :by orientation of the holder relative to the work. With: the perforating implement of this invention, this orientation is'readily accomplished by withdrawing the punch: from, the guide sleeve. Todo this, the set-screw 7 2 iswithdrawn from engagement with the groove 76: and the: Woodruift key is then removed from its original seat. and is placed inthe second seat, which is angularly spaced 90 from; the original seat. The punch is then replaced, with the Woodruif key sliding in its keyway. The set-screw 72 is then replaced in the second threaded aperture 74', which is spaced 90 from the original aperture to correspond with the angular displacement between the seats for the Woodruif key. Thus, the punch bit 38 may be oriented through a 90 angle, and in its new position, it is held against angular movement relative to the holder by the engagement of the Woodruff key with the keyway in the guide sleeve.

The die 14 may be similarly oriented by a withdrawal of the key retainer pin 28, removal of the L-shaped key 25 from its recess 30, rotation of the die through a 90 6 angle, and placement of the L-shaped key 25 in the second keyway 30'. After placement in the second key recess 30', the L-shaped key is pinned in position by the key retainer pin 28. To rotate the die relative to the lower arm 11, it is necessary to ease the bolt 22 in the splitclarnp. As used in the specification and claims, the terms shaped punch and shaped die refer to such elements as are'used to produce non-circular openings in the workpiece.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the, invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention What I claim is:

1. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press comprising a holder having a lower base and an arm over said base, a shaped die mounted on said base, a punching and stripping assembly including a guide sleeve reciprocably mounted and guided in a guide opening in said arm, a punch having a cylindrical shank and a shaped bit, said shank being reciprocably mounted and guided in said guide sleeve with said shaped bit in alignment with said die, and a key seated in said punch and adapted to slide in a keyway in said guide sleeve, said punch having two key seats angularly displaced from each other and each adapted to receive and seat said key, whereby'said punch may be selectively positioned relative to said guide sleeve in either of two fixed angular positions for cooperation with a die of like shape which can be correspondingly selectively positioned, said punch having a peripheral axially extending recess, a setscrew seated in a threaded aperture in said reciprocably movable guide sleeve and engaging in said recess, said sleeve having two threaded apertures each adapted to receive said set-screw and angularly spaced apart corresponding to the spacing of said key seats, whereby the reciprocal outward movement of said punch in said guide sleeve is limited in each angular position of said punch in said guide sleeve.

2. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press comprising a holder having a lower base and an arm over said base, a die mounted on said base, a punching andstripping assembly including a guide sleeve reciprocably mounted and guided in a guide opening in said arm, and a punch reciprocably mounted and guided in said guide sleeve in alignment with said die, said punch having a peripheral, axially-extending recess terminating at each end thereof in a shoulder, a set-screw threaded through an aperture in said reciprocably movable guide sleeve and protruding therefrom toward said recess and between said shoulders to engage one of said shoulders to limit the outward reciprocal movement of said punch relative to said guide sleeve, the axis of said set-screw being inclined downwardly toward the axis of the punch and making an acute angle therewith.

3. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press comprising a holderhaving a lower base and an arm over said base, a die mounted on said base, a punching and stripping assembly including a guide sleeve reciprocably mounted and guided in a guide opening in said arm, a punch reciprocably mounted and guided in said guide sleeve in alignment with said die, stripping spring means interposed between said punch and guide sleeve adapted to return said punch to an initial position spaced from said die, said punch having a peripheral, axially-extending recess, the lower end of which is inclined at an obtuse angle to the axis of the punch, and a screw projecting through an aperture in said reciprocably movable guide sleeve toward said recess and having a flat end surface, the axis of said screw being inclined downwardly toward the axis of said punch at an acute angle therewith, the'said lower end of said recess being inclined for flush engagement with the flat end surface of said screw.

4. The punching apparatus of claim 3 wherein the acute angle between the axis of said set-screw and the axis of said punch is 75.

5. The punching apparatus of claim 3 including feather key means carried by said arm and interposed between said reciprocably movable guide sleeve and arm to limit angular movement therebetween.

6. The punching apparatus of claim 3 including means to limit reciprocal movement of said sleeve in the upper head of said holder, said means comprising a rigid retainer disk removably carried by said arm and extending into an elongate slot in said guide sleeve.

7. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press comprising a holder having a lower base and an arm over said base, a shaped die mounted on said base, a punching and stripping assembly of cylindrical configuration and including a guide sleeve reciprocably mounted and guided in a guide opening in said arm, a shaped punch reciprocably mounted and guided in said guide sleeve in alignment with said die, first feather key means interposed between said guide sleeve and arm adapted to prevent relative angular movement therebetween, second feather key means interposed between said punch and guide sleeve adapted to prevent relative angular movement therebetween, first means angularly disposed with respect to said key means and detachably secured to said arm and adapted to limit reciprocal movement of said guide sleeve in said arm, and second means angularly disposed with respect to said key means and removably secured to said guide sleeve adapted to restrict reciprocal movement of said punch therein.

8. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press and comprising a stationary C-frame having a fixed upper arm and a lower arm, a single shaped die removably and nestingly mounted on said lower arm, a sleeve reciprocably mounted in a bore in said upper arm, a punch reciprocable in said sleeve, a single straight slot in the upper side of the lower arm, a registering slot in the lower side of the upper arm, said slots extending radially of the axis of the bore in said upper arm, and stationary keys in said slots to key said die and reciprocable sleeve to the C-frame to align said sleeve angularly with said die about their axes.

9. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press and comprising a stationary C-frame having a fixed upper arm and a lower arm, a single shaped die removably and nestingly mounted on said lower arm, a sleeve reciprocably mounted in a bore in said upper arm, a punch reciprocable in said sleeve, a single straight slot in the upper side of the lower arm, a registering slot in the lower side of the upper arm, said slots extending radially of the axis of the bore in said upper arm, slots in said sleeve and die in registry with the slots in said arms, and stationary keys in said slots to key said die and reciprocable sleeve to the C-frame to align said sleeve angularly with said die about their axes.

10. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press, comprising a stationary holder havingia fixed upper arm and a lower arm, a single shapedl j die'jdetachably and nestingly mounted on said lower arm, a fsilee've'reciprocably mounted and guided in abore said iipper arm, a punch reciprocable in said sleeve, a 'si n gle straight slot in the upper side of the lower a 1a registering slot in the lower side of the upper arm, said'slots extending radially of the axis of the bore in said upper arm, slots in said sleeve and die in registry withthe slots in said arms, stationary keys seated in said'slots to key said die and reciprocable sleeve to the C-frame to align said sleeve angularly with said die about their axes, and a key seated in said punch and adapted to slide -in a keyway in. said sleeve, said punch having two keyseats angularly displaced by each adapted to receive and seat said key whereby said punch may be selectively angularly positioned relative to said sleeve and said C-frame, said punch having aperipheral, axially extending .recess defining a shoulder, a set-screw rigidly carried in a threaded aperture in said guide sleeve and having an end projecting toward said punch and en gaged in said recess, said sleeve having two threaded apertures each adapted to receive said set-screw and angularly displaced by 90 to correspond to the spacing of the seats for the key, whereby the reciprocal movement of said punch in said reciprocably mounted sleeve is limited in each placement of said punch in said sleeve in one direction by engagementofsaid screw with said shoulder.

11. A self-contained punching apparatus for use between the bed and ram of a press comprising a holder having a lower base and an arm over said base, a shaped die mounted on said base, a punching and stripping assembly including a guide sleeve reciprocably mounted in a guide opening in said arm, said arm having a key slot directed v transversely of said opening and facing said base, said arm also having an aperture vertically spaced from said slot and: communicating with said opening and aligned with said slot, a shaped punch reciprocably mounted and guided in said guide sleeve in alignment with said die, and U,-shaped key means having a leg snugly carried by said arm in said slot and a second leg loosely received in said aperture, said key being interposed between said arm and said guide sleeve for snug engagement in a slot in said guide sleeve-to prevent relative angular movement therebetween.

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